"How did you end up in that state? You were close to death's door when I found you!"
Inna bit her lower lip, trying not to lash out with curses from the get-go. After a few moments of calming herself, she finally spoke.
"I met these team of adventurers by the river. I was lost so I decided to go with them. We talked a lot and I sort of felt a sense of friendship with them. So, when they started talking about the hunting quest they had, I decided to help them. They told me this bullshit of a plan that sounded right. They said that the Golden Bear only comes out at dawn, and it had the lightning attribute so it's best to not let it out the cave so there would be no chances of calling lightning. And to trap it, they found that there were three cave openings that all reach towards its lair. They all assigned people by each cave entrance, and I was partnered up with a healer that I thought was my friend. They said this shitty excuse about the nearest cave being ours and they had to leave to go to the other caves. I thought they were telling the truth, so I went in with the Shadow healer and didn't think twice about their disappearance."
Inna took a deep breath to compose herself again.
Meanwhile, Solomon was trying to decipher her strange words.
Ball Sheet?
Sheet Tea?
He was about to ask but Inna started to talk again.
"So, after a while, when we were inside the cave, we heard this growl. Soon, the Shadow healer used his skill to run away and I was left and attacked by that humongous bear."
"While I was attacked, I saw them by the corner of my eye."
"I thought they were going to save me. But turns out, they just went inside the cave to loot it. Then, they ran away."
Inna kept the matter about her beating the bear and making the bear retreat. She didn't want to tell too much. Who knows, this 'Solomon' might be another 'George.'
Solomon thought over her words.
"Judging from the fact that you trusted them easily, you're not fit to be an adventurer."
He shook his head.
"It's a hidden code for all adventurers."
"Never trust anyone with everything unless you have a hold on them."
"Their survival matters first."
"It's every man for himself."
"The moment they treated you, a stranger, warmly, was enough of a warning. No one is that kind inside the Miasma Forest. Other adventurers would even sacrifice their own teammates just to live, so why would they waste effort and resources on a stranger?"
"And to think you don't even know what a Golden Bear is." He looked at her and snorted.
"No one in the Fighter class is ignorant when it comes to the Golden Bear. It's like a forbidden fruit for them."
"It's common knowledge that the Golden Bear is a High Rank beast and it treasure sleeping a lot. And to be woken up at dawn would give it the worst mood. I don't know which stupid adventurer would wake one up unless they wanted to die early."
"And, lightning attribute my ass. Even if it had that, whether its outside or underground, it can still call and form lightning anytime. They probably got this idea from its poison. The Golden Bear has a special paralysis poison that's similar to being stunned by electric currents. It's quite difficult to nullify unless the Priest is more or less high rank."
"Also, the Bear likes golden things, hence, the name 'GOLDEN' bear. It steals and kills just to collect anything that is gold or resembles gold. That's why your 'friends' took fancy towards it. It's like an instant gold mine when they find one. And aside from gold, it uses jewels and gems as its food source so it has plenty of those as food storage. But sometimes, it eats humans too."
"But the chances of taking the gold is very slim. The bear's claws and teeth are so strong, it can easily cut through any metal or stones. It also has great speed and is quite clever. Its ears and eyes are especially exceptional. It can hear from a distance of a kilometer and can see farther than that. So when it finds a target, it can easily chase after it. Also, they are usually slightly sadistic."
"Now, here's the stupid part for you, and the main reason why nobody wants to go near a Golden Bear. It's because they only focus on ONE prey at a time. So, when you enter its sight, it won't stop until you're devoured. And then it will go after your friends."
"So, I don't understand how you would volunteer on helping them out. It's basically asking to be killed. But then again, you trusted them. Which is kind of your own fault."
"So, which group of adventurers are they from?" Solomon was curious. There were multiple ruthless teams out there, but barely anyone can successfully loot a Golden Bear's cave. And from what she just said, they actually succeeded.
"I don't know their group name. But I do know their individual names. Rhinol, Roderhin, Renee, and George."
When Inna started saying their name, Solomon finally understood.
"So it's them..."
"The Loners."